Ty thought of how she’d admitted to eating nothing but honey bars, which she knew were safe, for weeks to be certain she wasn’t poisoned. Poor little female! Despite himself, his heart ached for her. To feel so cornered—so alone—it was a terrible position she found herself in. The fact that she was supposed to lead her people and show only strength, yet she couldn’t even be sure of staying alive must be terrifying and frustrating in the extreme.
Well, I’m here now—I’ll keep her safe, he told himself. But only because it’s my job. Not because I care for her in any way other than a professional one. And besides, I’ll be leaving as soon as I have her new Chorkay guard completely trained and vetted. So there’s no need to worry that I might form a permanent attachment when I’m only here on a temporary basis.
Feeling a little better about his position here on Helios Beta, he led Ellina and the rest of the Kindred warriors who surrounded her down to the end of the long hallway, shouting, “Make way! Make way for the Potentate of Helios Beta—the Goddess in the Flesh. Make way!”
Chapter Six
The hallway terminated in a vast set of golden double doors. As the guards posted beside them pulled them open, Ellina took a deep breath and put on her most regal expression.
“Grandmamma, I’m about to greet the people and drink the Cup of Wisdom,” she murmured to Lor, who instantly perked up and relayed the message.
“You’ll do fine, my child. I have faith in you,” came the whispered reply.
Ellina frowned. Did her grandmother sound a bit weaker than she had earlier? Probably not—it was just her nerves. And anyway, it was good to know she had the older woman’s support during this first important ceremony.
She had seen her grandmother greet the common folk many times—though she had always been located at a far point and watching from a distance so that the two of them weren’t close enough together to kill with one blow. She remembered the straightness of her grandmother’s spine and the proud tilt of her head as she addressed her people.
This was to be Ellina’s first such public address and she couldn’t help the flutter in her stomach as she stepped out onto the Grand Balcony to stand by Lord Kikbax’s side.
The Grand Balcony, like all of her kingdom, was located deep beneath the surface of Helios Beta. But one would scarcely know it, looking out into the vast natural cavern which had been enlarged until it was able to hold every citizen from the capital city at once, as well as the many visitors who had come to see their new Potentate.
The balcony overlooked a sea of faces, all tiny dots from Ellina’s perspective. Directly below it, on a raised platform, were the nobles. Almost all of them had skin tones that were darker shades of blue than the common people. They had been breeding for years, attempting to get as close to the Sacred Blue color as possible.
And yet, when they do have someone with the Sacred Blue skin tone, they revile her, Ellina thought bitterly. But of course, it wasn’t the color of her skin that drove them to despise her. It was her other oddities.
“Your Highness.” The High Priest bowed to her slightly as she stepped up to take her place beside him, a look of displeasure on his heavy face. He was dressed in his full priestly regalia with a long yona feather cape in every shade of blue and a heavily jeweled golden breast plate, which bulged out over his considerable belly. “You certainly took your time getting here,” he said, not bothering to hide the censure in his voice.
Ellina heard a low growl behind her and realized that Ty was looming over her shoulder glaring at Kikbax. If she didn’t say something to the High Priest, her Kindred guard certainly would. Which would no doubt cause a problem, since he had already dressed down Kikbax’s servant.
“You forget yourself, Lord Kikbax,” she said, giving the older man a cold look. “I am not subject to your schedule—I come when I am ready.”
The High Priest looked surprised and not a little displeased at her reply but apparently decided that now was not the place to have a reckoning.
“Well, since you have deigned to arrive at last, is Your Majesty ready to drink of the Cup of Wisdom?” he asked instead, motioning for his servant to hand it to him. It was a huge, solid gold chalice, so heavy it had handles on either side of it to grip with. The High Priest grunted as he lifted it to show her and Ellina saw that it was half full of deep red wine.
“I am.” Ellina nodded, her heart beating hard. But Ty was suddenly at her side.
“As soon as I taste it and make certain there is no poison or impurity,” he said smoothly, reaching for the cup.
“What? No!” Kikbax drew back the golden chalice protectively. “The Cup of Wisdom is sacred. None but the lips of the Potentate herself must touch it.”
“And in a perfect world, that is exactly how it would be,” Ty said smoothly. “But my Lady’s life has been lately threatened and so extra measures of precaution must be taken. From now on, I will be tasting everything she is given to eat or to drink before it touches her lips.”
“But…but this is blasphemy!” Kikbax sputtered. “You are not even a Chorkay but only a common off-worlder. You cannot taste of the
